Urgent Care Management of Common Marine Life Injuries and Envenomations (Trauma CME) | Points & Pearls
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Urgent Care Management of Common Marine Life Injuries and Envenomations (Trauma CME)

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Points & Pearls Excerpt

  • Marine injuries should be managed based on mechanism of injury (puncture, laceration, scrape, or sting), time since exposure, venom and tetanus status (if known), and wound complication, rather than solely on species identification. (See Table 1.)
  • Most patients with a marine envenomation presenting to urgent care are clinically stable, but decompensation can occur quickly.
  • Delayed presentations (hours or days after injury) are common and usually non–life-threatening. Keep in mind that delayed reactions can occur with certain species (eg, sea snakes, blue-ringed octopods).
  • Hot water immersion (42˚-45˚C/107˚–113˚F) is a low-cost, first-line treatment for pain relief for all marine life envenomations and may provide thermolysis (denaturation of venom proteins with heat).
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Publication Information
Authors

Nicholas Bird, MD, MMM, FAAFP, FUHM; Jamie Seymour, BSc, PhD, CF

Peer Reviewed By

Ivan Koay, MBChB, MRCS, FCUCM, FRNZCUC, MD; Lyndsie Watkins, PA-C, FCUCM

Publication Date

March 1, 2026

CME Expiration Date

March 1, 2029    CME Information

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